Part Two for Vineyard at Home Retreat.

1. ROOTED DEEPLY
SESSION TWO

2. ROOTING MORE DEEPLY INTO HOPE
“By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to
do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it
all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not
all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same
moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find
ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out
in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall
and shouting our praise.

3. “There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when
we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can
develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn
forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever
God will do next. And hope does not put us to shame, because
God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy
Spirit, who has been given to us”
(Romans 5:1-4 (Message) and 5 (NIV).

4. WHAT IS HOPE?
AN OPTIMISTIC STATE OF MIND
about certain things one wants or
desires in the future. The Christian’s
hope is rooted in the activity and character of
God.

5. OPTIMISM = “GOD CAN…”
Optimism is the fuel gauge of hope.
It says “GOD CAN” (not necessarily
“GOD WILL”).
The more deeply you root into hope, the more generally optimistic
you will become.

6. IS THERE HOPE?
One of the most frequent questions I am asked in my work as a counselor is the
question: “is there hope?”
The reasons for this question are obvious: hope keeps us in the struggle. If there is no
hope, why struggle? The weariness that comes from struggling may tempt us to give up
on hope. As someone has put it: “Ever since I gave up hope I feel much better”.
But there is always hope if we are willing to root deeply into God and His resources. The
exact features of our hope may shift. The timing may change. The process may play out
differently. But hope leaves the door open for God to work in ways we may not currently
have in view. “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil
within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
(Psalm 43:5).

7. EASY HOPE AND HARD HOPE – EASY HOPE
Easy hope lies on the surface of our lives like water lies on the surface of the land.
The thirsty person need only bend down and reach out a little in order to access it.
Easy hope is:
• Circumstantial – “The tests suggest hope for a full recovery”
• Self-generated – “By studying an extra two hours I hope to ace this test”
• Consistent with the past – “Past experiences give me reason to hope things can
change in this situation”.

8. HARD HOPE
Hard hope is like a water well. It lies out of easy reach and must be accessed by
patient effort and, sometimes, repeat attempts.
Hard hope:
• Is counter-circumstantial – “The odds are against me but I have hope
nonetheless”.
• Requires more time – “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope…”
(Psalm 130: 5)
• Would be a change from the past – “Hope tells me this time will be different”.

9. MEDITATION:
• Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
• 22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
• 25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD”. (Lamentations 3: 21-26)

10. GOING BELOW THE SURFACE WITH GOD
With God as your guide you descend into the deep subterranean caverns of faith,
hope, and love He has formed within you. They are stunning places. Each have their
own outstanding and special features. The place the Lord is taking you today is the
Fountain of Hope. It is a bubbling fountain that continually gurgles and gushes with
new waters that spring up to feed it.
“This is the Fountain of Hope I have put within you,” the Lord says. “Not as the
world gives, give I unto you. These waters are lively. They are endless. They can
moisten your roots and keep you green with optimism even when the surface
waters have dried and the heat of the sun shines long and harshly.

11. Bending down, you scoop some of the water into your cupped hands and drink.
What effect does it have on you? Among other things, it causes you to see a good
future. You feel less heavy and loaded down with cares. You relax and rest.
“Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off” (Prov. 23:18). “For you,
O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth” (Ps. 71:5). “Let your
steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you” (Ps. 33:22). “…
the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast
love” (Ps. 147:11).

12. You notice that the roots of the trees above you are reaching for the waters of this
fountain. They are attracted to the flow of hope deep inside. Roots that don’t reach
down deep enough into hope become dry and brittle so that they lose their grip on
the soil.
Roots watered by hope, by contrast, are supple and healthy and send nourishment
upwards into the growth above.